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DU-N.NtK LAKE, .NtVALtA CUL MY, CALIFORNIA 




NEVADA 

THE 

BANNER COUNTY 

OF the: 

GOLDEN STATE 



3AN FRANC/SCO TO NEVADA COUNTY /^^ MILES 




Nevada County 

State of California 

THE HOME OF DEEP PRODUCING GOLD 

MINES AND PROLIFIC FRUIT 

ORCHARDS 




Issued by Board of Supervisors of Nevada County 
California 



PRESS OF UNION PUBLISHING COMPANY 
Grass Valley, California 

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NEVADA COUNTY 

STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

STlvl-yrCIIING from tlic lii,^li Sierras into the great valley of 
the Sacramento, formed of a vast succession of hills and 
\ales. plateaus and streams, this political subdivision encom- 
})asses almost every variety of climate and soil and stands 
out uni(|ue and ]Mctures(iue among the sisterhood of counties. 
Its earl}' history is most romantic and amazing, harking 
back to the early days of gold seeking, when the knight of the pan, 
rocker, and sluice-box haunted the gulches and ravines and counted 
his day's labor lost unless it yielded him an ounce of virgin gold. 
This was a i)eriod of wealth and excitement. Following close, came 
the advent of (|uartz mining. The early efforts being well repaid, 
deeper and deeper these veins were followd, honey-combing the 
depths with subterrannean jiassages until the industry has placed the 
county hrst among the gold producing counties of California, with 
every encouragement for a greater future production. 

Since the earliest days it has been known that the county is well 
adapted to horticulture and agriculture pursuits, and the movement, 
now a lusty one, is not to supercede or take the place of mining, but 
to supplement it, the two flourishing side by side in most perfect 
harmony. For many years, however, the pounding of stamps drowned 
the call of "back to the land" and the ready reply to many inquiries 
as to this indift'erence was : Why adopt this indirect method of 
tilling the soil for wealth, when gold in its native state lurks just 
beyond? This thought, paramount in the minds of the older inhabit- 
ants, was instilled in the minds of the following generation, and 
nature's bountiful gift of climate, conditions and soil, to them had the 
same significence that a quartz ledge would have to a member of an 
agricultural community without a knowledge of minerals. But the 
bordering counties not being endowed with that permanency in 
mining, early adopted horticulture and agriculture, and their expan- 
sion and development lifted that veil of "mining exclusively," reveal- 
ing that nature had been just as liberal in creating our surface as our 
depths. 

In this brief sketch of modern Nevada County, it is considered 
proper to speak of two specific instances, of soil development, which 
are typical of many. 

One is that of Mr. Horace V. Winchell, a mining engineer of 
national reputation, whose training and travel gave him a wide knowl- 
edge of what constitutes profitable investments. Coming here 
in a professional capacity two or three years ago, after a brief visit 
he departed a farmer, having instructed his agents to purchase 400 
acres of land upon which he is spending thousands of dollars, plant- 
ing it to fruit. 

The second instance is that of Messers W. F. and C. H. Prisk, 
natives of Nevada County, now successful publishers and men of large 




LARC.E WALNUT TREE. 

affairs in southern California. Believing in the county of their birth, 
they recently purchased 147 acres of virgin land, and are expending 
large sums in transforming the natural growth into a commercial 
orchard. 

These cases might be multiplied many times, and they are ex- 
tremely significent. If skilled business men are willing to invest their 
money here, trusting others to work out a profit for them, may not 
the homeseeker look with confidence to recompense, for the labor of 
his own hands ? So we are oft'ering the homeseeker and visitors a very 
hearty invitation to come and view the advantages of this section, and 
become another member in this movement which is destined to add 
another distinction to this county— that of producing on both sides. 

Nevada City and Grass Valley, the two principal cities of the 
county, are often referred to as the "Twin Cities of the Sierras." 
They are only four miles apart and are connected by both electric and 
steam railways and by an excellent graveled highway. Each city 
had its beginning in the memorable year of '49, when the rude cabins 
of the early gold-seekers made their appearance on what now con- 
stitutes the town sites. 

xNEVADA CITY. 

Nevada City has a population of approximately 4,0(X) and is the 
county seat. The executive building stands in the midst of a beauti- 
ful lawn and is commodious and in keeping with the wealth of the 



5 




XEX'ADA COUNTY'S EXHIBIT AT SAX TRAXCISCO LAXl) SlU )\\', 1'J13. 



county. At the edge of the city is situated the county hospital and 
farm, an institution where the indigent sick are given proper care and 
treatment. 

Among the pul:)hc buildings of note are a modern high school 
building, just erected at a cost of $40,000, handsome Elk's Home, 
Carnegie Library, large grammar school, four churches and numerous 
fraternal buildings. The principal streets of the town are paved and 
cement sidewalks are now being pushed into every section. Electric 
lighting, gas, telephone, municipal water and street car systems were 
long since established. 

Nevada City is the northern terminal of the Nevada County Nar- 
row Gauge Railway and is the distributing and outfitting point for 
a large portion of Nevada and Sierra Counties. Here, too, is located 
the headciuarters of the Tahoe National Forest. 

GRASS VALLEY. 

Grass Valley has a population of about 5,500, making it the largest 
foot-hill city of Northern California. Here the Federal Government is 
now engaged in the erection of a postoffice building at a cost of 
$75,000. An Elk's Home, recently completed at a cost of $50,000 and 
devoted exclusively to the uses of that order, four churches, six 
school buildings and several fraternal buildings are of the present, 
while the near future gives promise of high school and public library 
buildings and a city hall. An excellent municipal library is now in 




CLEARING LAND FOR ORCHARD. 



operation. As with the county seat, all of the modern utilities are 
available here — electric lights, gas, telephones, municipal water and 
street cars. Here has been established a cannery for the packing of 
fruits and vegetables grown in the county. 

TRUCKEE. 

Nestling in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, at an elevation of 
nearly 6,000 feet, lies the city of Truckee, whose birth dates back to 
the construction days of the first trans-continental railroad, when its 
virgin forests materially assisted in solving the problems of the 
pioneers of railroad building in the west. 

With a past which was closely associated with early historical 
lore, as it was near here that the ill-fated Donner party passed the 
disastrous winter of 1846-47, and with a future which is destined to 
make its name bear to the people of the west the same significance as 
the Alps to Switzerland, Truckee enjoys the unique distinction of 
being among the few playgrounds of the west, able to appeal to the 
pleasure loving public, at all seasons of the year in nature's own way. 

With its rugged mountains and beautiful scenery, fine hunting and 
unexcelled fishing, lake resorts and winter sports, nature makes this 
region a natural paradise for the tourist. Its close proximity to Tahoe, 
Donner, Independence, and Webber Lakes, gives this section facilities 
for appealing to all classes of people ; while the Truckee River passes 
through the city and Campbell's hot springs is within a few hours ride. 




PLANTING A NEW ORCHARD. 



Through the efforts of the Truckee Chamber of Commerce, the 
Truckee Ice Carnival and Winter Sports Company was organized 
for the purpose of furnishing to the thousands of Californians, living 
along the coast and in the great valleys, who never knew before 
what real winter sport was, the opportunity of enjoying the rigors 
of winter; which set their blood tingling, envigorating their systems 
and sending them liack to their work with a new color in their cheeks. 

The carnival opens about Christmas, and continues well into 
March, during which time the railroad offers special rates. The 
venture is proving very successful, large crowds attending through- 
out the season. A large ice palace is devoted to ice skating and danc- 
ing, while a long toboggan slide, skieing, and sleighing to different 
places of interest, form the principal outdoor amusements. 

Truckee being a freight division point, offers exceptional op- 
portunities to the lumber industry. One mill, the Sierra Nevada 
Lumber and Wood Company, at Overton, cuts 30 million feet a 
year and employes 800 men ; while the Crown Paper Company, 
located a few miles from Truckee, at Floriston, consumes vast 
quantities of timber in the manufacture of paper. This company em- 
ploys a large number of men. With the advent of refrigeration of 
fruit shipments to the eastern markets, the ice industry was rapidly 
developed and the section now cuts over 200,000 tons of ice a year. 

The population of Truckee is 1700 and its public schools would 
be a credit to a town of much larger population. 




10 




ORCHARDS IN BLOSSOM AT CIIirACO PARK. 

THE SCHOOLS. 

Nevada County has a public schuul system which compares 
favorably with that of any county of the state. There are forty-hve 
school districts with an aggregate attendance of over 2,500 pupils. 
The average school term is eight and one-half months. Competent 
and worthy teachers are employed exclusively and the minimum wage 
is $70 per month. 

High schools are maintained in the towns of Grass Valley, 
Nevada City and Truckee, with an aggregate enrollment of about 
300, and the number is constantly increasing. The high school at 
Truckee is union, embracing the districts of Truckee, Boca, Floriston, 
and Overton. Nevada City has just completed a splendid high school 
building, while Grass Valley contemplates such improvement in the 
near future. Under the laws of the state, high school facilities must 
be furnished free to every pupil of the county who so desires. 

In addition to the public schools, the Sacramento Diocese of the 
Catholic church maintains at Grass Valley, Mount St. Mary's 
Academy, an institution for girls, St. Patrick's Academy, for boys, 
and primary schools, for both resident and non-resident pupils. 
Many orphans from various parts of the country are given kindly 
care and instruction by Sisters in charge of a convent, maintained 
for over half a century by the church at Grass Valley. 

A well equipped business college is also conducted in Grass 
Valley. 



11 




UNDERGROUND TURBINE PUMPING STATION- 4IJU0-POOT LEVEL. 

MINES AND MINING. 

The double honor of being Cahfornia's pioneer and banner pro- 
ducing gold mining county is Nevada County's unic|ue distinction. 

This county was among the first in which gold was washed from 
the ravines and stream beds of California's foothills ; and it is within 
the Grass Valley district that the first discovery of rich gold bear- 
ing quartz in veins was made and on which discovery the great 
quartz mining industry of the state was founded ; and at Nevada 
City the first hydraulic mining of the "dead river" gravels for gold 
was inaugurated in the early '50's. 

Nevada County ofifers intense interest to the geologist and mining 
engineer through the varying character and prominence of its belts 
or zones of quartz and mineral bearing bedrock formations ; and 
overcapping the bed rock series there exists enormous beds of gold 
bearing quartz gravels sealed and capped by volcanic muds and flows, 
which present a study of both geologic and economic interest un- 
equalled anywhere else in the world. 

And to the financial investor and mining operator, the county 
still offers good opportunity for the development of productive and 
paying gold and copper mines. 

The history of gold mining in Nevada County embraces: (1) 
the excitement and success of the "days of '49" pan and sluice mining 
of our ravine beds which were so rich that the earliest mining camp 
regulations and code of laws limited a "claim" to 15 x 30 feet of 



12 




rACKixr, FRriT for siiipmext. 



surface ; (2) the subsequent development of the enormous hydrauhc 
mining operations; and (3) the constant and successful operation of 
the quartz mines from 1850 up to the present date, with the develop- 
ment of mines from claims 100 feet square and worked to water level 
depth, to the present holdings of hundreds of acres of mineral patents 
and working to depths of several thousand feet on the veins. 

The record of the production from the mines of Nevada County 
shows a yield in gold from the pioneer sluice and surface diggings 
of $22,000,000; from the hydraulic and drift gravel mines of $80,000,- 
000 ; and from the quartz mines of $140,000,000. 

Government record of the hydraulic mining operations show an 
estimated total of over 400,000,000 cubic yards of gravel mined 
within Nevada County. These gravels averaged from 150 to 500 feet 
depth of pure wash gravel bank with capping of volcanic "top dirt" 
sometimes 150 to 200 feet in thickness. The gold values in the 
gravels ranged from 10 or 15 cents per cubic yard for top gravel to 
35 to 70 cents per cubic yard in the average lower depths of the 
channel. The bedrock or "blue lead" bottom gravel has yielded from 
$1.50 to $5.00 per cubic yard in mining ; this latter gravel being worked 
at profit by drift and milling or sluice process. There is an estimated 
available quantity of gravel remaining in these ancient river chan- 
nels, exclusive of the many miles of deeply capped channels, through 
cross ridges, of from 2 to 3 times the quantity excavated, or hundreds 
of millions of dollars worth of gold awaiting the development of a 



13 




14 




GRAIN SCENE IN PENN \ ALLEY. 

process of niininsj,- these banks which will come within the permit of 
Government regulation. Many extensive stretches of drift gravels, 
either cemented or free wash deposits, offer profitable field for ex- 
ploration. 

It is in quartz gold mining that Nevada County leads in yield 
and in profit. From the Meadow Lake vein system at 8,000 or 9,000 
foot elevation near the Sierra Nevada mountain summit, to Grass 
Valley and Rough and Ready at 2,000 to 2,500 foothill elevation, there 
occurs a geological association of metamorphosed sedimentary and 
highly siliceous igneous rocks with accompanying intensity of Assur- 
ing and resultant systems of veins and ore bodies which ofifer field 
for geological study, financial investment, and mining operation un- 
excelled in present day mining. 

Meadow Lake, Graniteville, Moores Flat, Washington, Maybert, 
Columbia Hill, Willow Valley, Banner Mountain, Nevada City, Grass 
Valley and Rough and Ready are the distinctive district segregations 
of the county, and each of these in turn has its several vein systems 
varying through their many phases of direct contact occurrence, and 
relationship to contact through resultant fissure systems. 

Throughout these districts the veins range from an average of 
1 foot to several feet in thickness of cj^uartz, and the ores average in 
yield from $4.00 or $6.00 per ton in the larger veins to an average of 
$12.00 to $15.00 per ton from the smaller veins as mined in the Grass 
Valley district. Small local deposits which average from $50.00 to 



15 




GENERAL NATURE OF LAND IN T] 

$100.00 per ton have been mined in the development of many of the 
veins, and frequent occurrence of bonanza specimen ore is found in 
most of the veins. 

Outside of the Grass Valley-Nevada City districts the mines have 
not as yet been developed to an average of over 500 to 1000 feet on 
the pitch of the veins. In Nevada City the Champion Mines are being- 
extensively and successfully developed from 2,400 foot depth to the 
surface throughout many hundreds of feet on the course of the veins ; 
and in Grass Valley the Empire and North Star properties are de- 
veloped to 4,600 and 6,400 feet on the flat dip of the veins. Each of 
these latter mines has many miles of underground work and has de- 
veloped at successive depths and lengths w'lthin the veins many ore 
bodies each of remarkable strength and value of vein matter. 

Mining is conducted in Nevada County at costs ranging from 
$4.00 to $8.00 per ton of ore milled and the ores yielding the greater 
part of the production are averaging $12.00 to v$H.OO per ton. The 
county is producing $3,000,000 annually in gold and silver. 

In the western part of Nevada County at Indian Springs and 
Spenceville and northerly near French Corral are many fissure vein 
and lode deposits of good copper ore. The fissure veins carry a fair 
content of gold, while the lode deposits are heavy in iron and sulphur. 
These veins are all unusually strong and well mineralized and the 
immense Iron Mountain deposit at Indian Springs, now owned by 
the United States Smelting- Company, will become a heavy producer 
of the base metals and their by-products. 



16 




FRUIT BELT OF NEVADA COUNTY. 

The U. S. Geological Survey Reports contain in the folio descrip- 
tion of this section the following strong commendation : "Very few 
districts in the United States can show such a concentration of wealth 
in a comparatively small area." 

HORTICULTURE. 

No other branch of farming offers such certainty of high profit 
to the Nevada County rancher as fruit growing, assuming that proper 
locations will be chosen and right methods followed. Throughout 
the greater part of the county the general character of the wooded 
slopes and rolling hills afford the ideal conditions of soil, air drainage, 
soil drainage, etc., necessary to the growing of thrifty trees and per- 
fect fruit. 

The equable climate removes in great degree the principal danger 
to successful fruit culture — frost — and at the same time so broadens 
the field that (barring the cranberry and the pineapple) the fruit 
grower may here successfully and profitably undertake to raise every 
important fruit known and grown within the United States — whether 
grown on plant, bush, vine, or tree. 

Local conditions, such as transportation facilities and irrigation, 
or the demands of eastern markets, may confine commercial fruit 
growing to certain lines ; but so far as natural limitations are con- 
cerned, it may be stated emphatically that these do not exist. 

In crossing the county from the western boundary a continual 
increase in elevation is noted, giving rise to climatic differences 



17 




BARTLETT PEARS ON THE TREE. 
18 




FIG TREKS AT PEXX \ALLEV 



which determine what fruit will thrive best. For comparison it will 
be convenient to roughly divide the county into three zones or belts, 
according to altitude, bearing in mind that each "belt" will overlap 
a little on its neighbor in point of products, and that local conditions 
sometimes modify "belt" influences over small areas. 

Within the west belt — altitude 500 to 1,500 feet — are to be found 
the semi-tropical fruits. Here thrive the orange, lemon, grapefruit, 
olive and fig, together with all the usual fruits and nuts of the tem- 
perate zone. During the great freeze of 1912, that wrought such havoc 
in southern California, the citrus trees of Nevada County were unin- 
jured, and in the year 1913 these trees bore the fruit that won for 
this county the first prize for best citrus exhibit at the great Califor- 
nia Land Show of that year. The cherries that won first prize were 
also grown in this part of the county. 

When better transportation facilities are provided the growing of 
both citrus and deciduous fruits for shipment in the fresh state will 
receive a tremendous impetus. At present, large profits will be found 
in such fruits as may be marketed in a non-perishable form, such as 
dried apricots, figs and prunes, pickled olives, nuts, etc. Almonds, 
chestnuts and walnuts may be grown profitably, and in the eastern 
part of this belt there are handsome profits in pear growing. Land 
values are exceedingly reasonable and a large acreage affords a broad 
choice. 

Li the central belt — altitude 1,500 to 3,000 feet — oranges, lemons 
and grapefruit are not grown, but in the lower portion olives and 

19 



f ^1;:->'^ 








HUNGARIAN PRUNES IN BLOSSOM. 

figs may be found growing in neighborly proximity to apples, pears, 
peaches, etc. Improved transportation facilities in this belt have led 
to the growing of a much broader variety of fruits, and apples, 
cherries, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, nuts, grapes and berries are 
produced in perfection and in profusion. 

The greatest fruit of this central belt — and of Nevada County — 
is the matchless Bartlett pear. Here were grown the pears — Bart- 
letts and other varieties — which at the State Fair of 1913 brought 
to Nevada County the sweepstakes award for best pear exhibit, and 
for best exhibit in each variety entered. At the California Land 
Show of the same year, fruit from this part of the county won gold 
medals (first prizes) for best peaches, pears, plums, prunes and nuts ; 
and also first prize for best general fruit exhibit. 

Within the limits of this belt are to be found most of the new 
commercial orchards of Nevada County — as many as 10,000 trees in 
one planting, with larger plantings now commenced or projected. 
One of the present 10,000 tree orchards will be added to annually, as 
the land is cleared, until the full planting of 30,000 trees is completed 
three years hence. Many hundreds of acres in small tracts are being- 
cleared for planting, and inside a few years the total orchard acreage 
will favorably compare with that in the other foothill counties, which 
earlier arrived at a realization of their fitness for this most profitable 
branch of farming. 

Nevada County's awakening has been a tardy one, but it has the 
great advantage that it allows the fruit grower here to profit from 

20 




YOl'Xr, APPLE ORCriAKD. 



the mistakes that were made in the earher days of horticultural 
development. The present planting is, therefore, entirely along the 
line of high-quality commercial varieties, their fitness to the county's 
conditions having been amply proven by 50 years of limited orchard- 
ing, during which time the superior quality of Nevada County fruit 
has become known to the great markets of the nation and a demand 
created far in excess of the supply. With large-scale orcharding 
now in full swing, there is no uncertainty as to results — no doubt as 
to profits — no limit as to markets. 

The pear will ever be the favored fruit in the central belt. Its high 
quality and unusual shipping properties combine to bring top prices — 
sometimes in excess of $4.00 per box of 48 pounds — while on the 
cultural side it is one of the most satisfactory trees and one of the 
longest-lived and hardiest. The county has one 40-year-old tree that 
bore 40 boxes of first-quality fruit in 1914. 

This royal fruit is entitled to be designated "King of California 
Fruits." It is securely enthroned as Nevada County's favorite and 
best, and should be planted in largely increased acreage. There is 
not the remotest danger of over-production. Blight — the constant 
menace of many districts — is not feared here. Natural agencies set 
a limit upon the activity of this insidious bacterial disease, and it 
shows none of its customary destructiveness under the foothill con- 
ditions of soil, moisture and climate. Simple control methods are so 
successful that no apprehension is felt on the rare occasions when 
it makes its appearance. 

21 







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22 




I'EAK ORfllAi;]). 

The following is production from above orchard of one hundred trees: 
1911— Sold to Earl Fruit Co. 4110 boxes Bartletts, at 60c per box. $240.00 net total. 
1912— Sold to Earl Fruit Co. 390 boxes Bartletts, at 60c per box. $2.'^4.00 net total. 
1913— Sold to Earl Fruit Co. 421 boxes Bartletts, at 60c per box. $252.60 net total. 
1914— Sold to Pioneer Fruit Co. 530 boxes Bartletts, at $1.00 per box. $530.00 net total. 
Average net yield per acre, per year, $314.75. 

Commercially pliim.s are next in importance to pears. Thev are 
a most satisfactory fruit for the grower, and often bring" as high 
an acre-proht as the pear. Those grown in the foothills are match- 
less in quality and beauty, and are in heavy demand in New York. 
Boston and other great cities of the east. Refrigerator ships will 
undoubtedly soon land California plums in London in perfect condi- 
tion, by way of the Panama canal. Unquestionaldy the canal is soon 
to prove the greatest factor in enlarging the market for fresh Cali- 
fornia fruit, and in reducing transportation costs to the grower, 
thereby largely increasing his net profit. The market for the plum 
is somewhat narrower than for the pear ; however, it is a most 
profitable fruit if grown in the right location, and there is room for 
a large increase in acreage. 

Peaches are largely grown for home consumption, and are up 
to the usual high California standard of size and luscious quality, 
but comparatively few are shipped to outside markets. The prudent 
commercial orchardist is planting" other fruits, which bring higher 
profits and do not involve the question of over-production. 

Apples are an important product, and in both quality and color 
are incomparably fine, while the yield per acre is generally heavy. 



23 




NAVEL ORANGE TREES. 

24 





TWO-VEAR-OLD PEACH ORCHARD AT RUUCH AND READY. 

Most of the present production is required to satisfy the home 
demand. In the older orchards too many varieties were planted, and 
many were not those which are in commercial demand. Recent 
plantings are correcting these mistakes, and a larger acreage set to a 
few varieties of high quality shows the present trend. In spite of 
heavy production all over the United States, large profits are still 
to be made in growing apples of quality. No other fruit is better 
suited to Nevada County conditions and it is an open cjuestion if 
any other part of the country is better suited to this fruit, particularly 
in the higher altitudes. Heavy planting of the desirable varieties is 
to be recommended, since fancy fruit always commands a profit, but 
it would be unwise to plant those of second quality. 

Cherries are productive and reach the limit of perfection in the 
deep soils of the central belt. Trees attain great size and yields of 
a ton to a single tree are claimed on good authority. Ripening late, 
it is not necessary to ship them to the east, since southern California 
affords an excellent market for the county's surplus. In proper loca- 
tions the acreage may be materially increased with profit. 

The production of English walnuts is steadily increasing and 
bids fair to become an important and profitable industry. A Nevada 
County man, the late Felix Gillet, introduced to California the hardy, 
late-blooming French type from Grenoble, France, in 1871, and this 
type is adapted to our conditions. Although not widely planted in 
a commercial way, the acreage is being gradually extended. Con- 



25 




LARGE PEAR TREE-HARVESTED 46 BOXES. 
26 




OLIVE ORCHARD. 



siderable interest is now being manifested in chestnuts and filberts. 
The former, at least, promises well for general planting, while in 
proper locations the latter is satisfactory. The future will see a heavy 
increase in the planting of nut trees but care must be exercised in 
choosing suitable locations. 

In the east belt — altitude 3,000 to 5,000 feet — apples are grown 
almost entirely. These are of the highest possible quality, of large 
size, and of great beauty. This part of the county is a perfect apple 
country, and even up to an elevation of 5,000 feet a failure of the 
crop is almost unknown. Land values are low and fortunes will be 
made by those who rise to this opportunity. At present, the lack of 
transportation facilities is a disadvantage ; later, this condition will 
disappear. 

Grapes reach perfection in the west and central belts, but other 
fruits are commercially preferable and no material increase of 
acreage is warranted. 

Throughout the entire county berries of every kind are most 
profitable, and ofifer quick returns to the industrious with no chance 
of over-production. Ten times the present production can be 
marketed without difficulty. Many are now shipped in from other 
markets. 

No other kind of farming will pay better than intelligently 
directed fruit growing under suitable conditions. Where these con- 
ditions are realized — as in Nevada County — it makes little difference 
what fruit is chosen : there is money to be made with all. Tree fruits 

27 




WALNUTS AND ALFALFA. 



will pay a profit of from $50 to $300 per acre, according to care, 
season, and markets, while berries will double these figures. 

However, much depends upon "the man behind the plow." His 
energy and his application of the best modern methods will determine 
his success here — just as in every other place on the globe. It is all 
"up to" the individual, but the right man will reap a rich reward. 

Planting of Fruit Trees in Nevada County in the Last Three Years. 

The following facts were compiled by the County Horticultural 
Commissioner, from the statistics of his office : 

There is over 250,000 acres available to horticultural and agri- 
cultural pursuits in Nevada County. 

The present area under cultivation is 32,000 acres. 

There are 2,495 acres planted to decidious fruit. 

The total acreage of fruit in Nevada County in 1910 was 842 acres. 

In 1912, 200 acres were planted to fruit. 

In 1913, 620 acres were planted to fruit. 

In 1914, 833 acres were planted to fruit, and 91 acre to nuts. 

Of the 1, 453 acres planted in 1913-14, 886 acres were planted to 
pears. 

IRRIGATION. 

Nevada County, in its gentle westerly slope from the Sierras to 
the low foothills at the edge of the Sacramento Valley, presents sev- 
eral distinctly defined areas of ridge, foothill and valley lands each 



28 




INTERIOR OF CANNERY. 

confined between prominent parallels of westerly flowing streams 
from the Yubas to Bear River. 

Both of these have their sources principally in the Sierra Nevada 
mountains within the boundaries of Nevada County ; and throughout 
this range of mountains are nestled numerous natural and artificial 
lakes of enormous storage capacity which form the conserved sup- 
ply for the ditch systems of the county. 

The northerly foothill section of the county known as the San 
Juan Ridge, is a long divide of 5 or 6 miles width between the Middle 
and South Yuba Rivers. From the mountain lakes to French Corral, 
a distance of over 30 miles, the Northern Water and Power Company 
ditch systems cover the backbone points and command this divide. 

From the South Yuba River, southerly through the Deer Creek 
basin which includes Newtown, Rough and Ready, Penn Valley, 
Pleasant Valley, and Mooney Flat, the Excelsior Water Company 
through a system of ditches about 100 miles in length taking watei 
directly from the lower altitudes of the streams above mentioned, 
develops a minimum summer supply of not less than 2,000 miners' 
inches of water (50 sec. ft.) and has an ultimate capacity sufficient 
to irrigate 5,000 acres of tilled land. 

The section of land tributary to this ditch system constitutes the 
particularly thriving and prosperous dairying section of this county. 

The remaining section of the westerly foothills of the county 
from Indian Springs divide to Bear River at 20 miles southerly, and 



29 




30 




PEXN \'ALLEY CREAMERY. 

from the westerly county boundary 10 miles to Wolf Creek and thence 
5 or six miles further to the Chicago Park and Cottage Hill fruit 
and farming districts, is an area of over 100,000 acres of California's 
best foothill land, which is as yet without irrigation except the few 
private water rights and ditches from Wolf Creek and the supply 
alTorded by the Campbell or New Blue Point ditch from Wolf Creek 
to Indian Springs. The Perrin and Lime Kiln ranches are excellent 
examples of well watered farms. 

CANNERY. 

The Nevada County cannery is a creation of the confidence which 
the citizens have in their section. It was realized that the building 
of a horticultural industry demanded two commercial conditions ; 
first, a market for the products grown by the new settler while his 
orchard is maturing, and second, a positive market for the products 
of his orchard when it matures. So the citizens of this section raised 
$16,000 and the Nevada County Cannery Association is the result. 

The cannery has been in operation for two seasons and it is the 
consensus of opinion that it has been a large factor in stimulating the 
planting of fruit. Last year the cannery expended $14,000 in operat- 
ing of which $5,000 was for labor, there being as many as 186 men, 
women and children on their payroll. The balance was expended for 
fruit and material. The cannery packed about 7,000 cases last season, 
and having formed a connection with the California Fruit Exchange, 



31 




ALI'AIJ A S(1':.\K AT TENX X'AI.I.KV. 

in addition to the pack, it shipped 8,640 boxes of Bartlett pears to 
the eastern markets which averaged $2.25 per box gross. 

The cannery is paying $40 per ton for pears, on a five or ten 
year contract. 

The pack in 1914 consisted of pears, peaches, plums, apples, and 
beans. 

DAIRYING. 

The birth of the industry in this county, dates back to the or- 
ganization of the Penn Valley creamery, the success of which at- 
tracted the attention of outside capital, which started a second 
creamery, and at the present time both institutions are in a pros- 
perous condition. 

There are well defined reasons for this growth. The natural 
environments and climatic conditions, together with the requirements 
of the local markets, which enable the creameries to pay 6 cents 
more than the San Francisco quotations, are large factors, but the 
third and perhaps determining factor, is the small investment neces- 
sary for land, which is an inducement to the beginner. In many of 
the older dairying sections of the state, price of dairy land ranges 
from $150 to $300 per acre, while here the prevailing prices range 
from $50 to $100. This means the same investment procures land 
enough here to support a much larger herd. 

In summing up the advantages for dairying in this district, one 
is justified in predicting a very bright future. 



32 



Nevada County is the Banner Gold Producing 
County in California 



Its mines have produced $242,000,000 in gold. They have a monthly 

payroll of $125,000. 
The population of the county is 14,955. 

Its area is 982 square miles. Its altitude ranges from 500 to 8000 feet. 
Its schools are accredited to the State University. 
Its reservoirs have a storage capacity of 50 billion gallons of water. 
It has over 800 miles of ditch and canal systems. 
The Truckee River is one of the finest trout streams in the world. 
It has the largest paper mill in California. 
It has two creameries — they pay 6 cents above San Francisco cream 

quotations. 

The following are the averages of a 30-year record, at 2500 elevation : 

Average rainfall, 54.41 inches. 

Average mean temperature, 53.5. Highest, 56.7. Lowest, 51.9 degrees. 
Highest recorded maximum temperature registered, 104. Lowest, 4 degrees. 
Monthly averages: Jan., 41.5; Feb.. 43.7; Mar., 44.6; Apr., 50.6; May, 55.5; 
June, 62.5; July, 67.7; Aug.. 67.6; Sept., 61.6; Oct., 55.3; Nov.. 47.7; Dec, 43.1 

Total No. Rainy No. Clear No. Partly No. Cloudy 

Precipitation Days Days Cloudy Days Days 

1909 88.54 99 216 57 92 

1910 34.40 62 225 71 89 

1911 69.07 76 216 81 68 

1912 44.20 80 198 105 63 

1913 50.69 70 227 50 88 

The red loams and the granite soils are the two predominating types. 

Average range of Phosphoric acid Lime Potash Humus 

Analysis of these types 10 to 0.25 .26 to 1.60 .20 to 0.26 1.25 to 3.75 

Amounts recognized as adequate. .10 .20 .20 1.00 

In competition with 32 counties Nevada County took first prize in all 

varieties of deciduous tree fruit at the San Francisco Land Show, 

1913. 
Nevada County took a sweepstake in pears at the State Fair, 1913. 
Nevada County has three nurseries. 

Three commercial fruit companies operate in Nevada County. 
Nevada County Cannery is paying $40 per ton for Bartlett pears, on five 

and ten year contracts. 
Nevada County is planting about 700 acres of fruit trees a year. 
A ten-year-old Bartlett pear orchard, properly cared for, will produce 

from 5 to 15 tons per acre. 
The price of raw fruit land ranges from $20 to $100 per acre. 
There is 400 square miles in Nevada County fruit belt. 



iSjRY OF CONGRESS 




